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Where to Place Modifiers in a Sentence

Clear and precise guidelines on placing modifiers in sentences, avoiding confusion. Correctly place adjectives, adverbs, and phrases to enhance clarity. Helpful resource for writing skills improvement.

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Where to Place Modifiers in a Sentence

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  1. Where to Place Modifiers in a Sentence University of the Sacred Heart Department of Humanities Center for Language Development Across the Disciplines LAD

  2. Objective To help the student write clear, precise sentences by placing modifiers correctly

  3. Modifiers • Modifying words and phrases are used to explain, expand, or clarify the meaning of a sentence • If modifiers are not properly placed, the sentence might be confusing

  4. Placing Modifiers Find the misplaced modifiers in the following sentences: • Myrna distracted Jim when he was about to study with her friends for the test. • James entered the room while I was watering the plants with a cup of tea.

  5. Placing Modifiers Look at the correct position of the modifiers now. • When Jim was about to studyfor the test. Myrna distracted him with her friends. • James entered the room with a cupof tea while I was watering the plants.

  6. Placing Modifiers • In the first case, it is understood that Jim was going to study with Myrna’sfriends • Once the modifiers are placed correctly, it is understood that Myrna and herfriends distracted Jim when he was about to study

  7. Placing Modifiers • In the second case, it is first understood that Iwas watering the plants with a cup of tea • Once the modifiers are placed correctly, it is understood that James entered the room with a cup of tea

  8. The Use of Commas With Modifiers Punctuation is also very important when placing modifiers. • John, my brother sneaked out of the house last night. • John, my brother, sneaked out of the house last night.

  9. The Use of Commas With Modifiers • In the first example, it is understood that I am talking to someone called John, and telling him that my brother sneaked out last night • In the second example, it is understood that John, who is my brother, sneaked out last night

  10. Remember • To write clear sentences, place adjectives, adverbs, phrases, and other modifiers near the word or phrase being modified • Use commas correctly to convey the message properly

  11. For More Information • Index English Grammar and Composition http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/index2.htm • Tons of Fun with Grammar http://www.seasite.niu.edu/flin/103_handouts/sentences_and_phrases.htm • Grammar Book Table of Contents http://www.grammarbook.com/exercises/grammar/cnt_gram.html

  12. Center for Language Development Across the Disciplines Prepared by: Thalia N. Nazario-Santiago English Mentor April-June 2003 Revised by: Patricia Kidd August 2004 Revised by: Prof. Delia Serrano January 2005

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